Sustainable Groundwater Management Act
The objective of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) is sustainable groundwater management in a manner that prevents significant and unreasonable impacts to groundwater basins in California. Under SGMA, each high and medium priority basin, as identified by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR), is required to have a Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) that will be responsible for groundwater management and development of a Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP). The EMWD Board of Directors is the GSA for the West San Jacinto Groundwater Basin and is responsible for development and implementation of a GSP.
Background
Click here to view a Google Earth map of the GSA area
West San Jacinto Groundwater Sustainability Agency Area
Groundwater in California accounts for about 38 percent of the State’s drinking water supply, and more than 80 percent of residents are dependent on groundwater for at least a portion of their drinking water needs.
The San Jacinto Groundwater Basin (Basin) is the source of groundwater production for EMWD and several other water purveyors. EMWD has been actively managing the Basin as part of a voluntary Assembly Bill 3030 effort passed in 1992. EMWD adopted the West San Jacinto Groundwater Basin Management Plan in 1995. The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) was passed into law in 2014, and required that medium and high priority groundwater basins designated by the Department of Water Resources (DWR) be managed by Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSA). Subsequently, EMWD’s Board of Directors became the exclusive GSA for the western portion of the San Jacinto Groundwater Basin (West San Jacinto GSA) on April 24, 2017.
The San Jacinto Groundwater Basin is deemed a high priority basin, but not critically overdrafted, by DWR, and the GSA was required to develop by 2022 and implement by 2042 a Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP).
The GSP was approved by DWR in 2023. The GSP documents basin conditions and ongoing basin management practices to maintain sustainability.
Find the GSP at the SGMA Portal under Plan Content.
Find the most current GSP Annual Report on this page under Program Documents.
Hemet-San Jacinto Watermaster Management Area
The eastern portion of the Basin is adjudicated. In April 2013, a Stipulated Judgment, Case Number RIC 1207274, was entered with the Superior Court of the State of California for the County of Riverside adopting the Management Plan and creating the Hemet-San Jacinto Watermaster (Watermaster). The Stipulated Judgment requires the preparation of an Annual Report by the Watermaster to document activities within the Management Area in a given year. The Watermaster has been submitting the Hemet/San Jacinto Groundwater Management Area Annual Reports to DWR since 2015 to comply with SGMA requirements for adjudicated basins.
Click here for more about the Hemet-San Jacinto Watermaster
Legislation
Historical groundwater use in California has been primarily unregulated and local agencies have practiced an informal manner of groundwater management within the basins. The unconstrained use of groundwater has led to widespread lowering of water tables, drying of domestic wells, land subsidence and corresponding damage to infrastructure, increased energy costs from pumping from greater depth, the reduction or elimination of baseflow to streams and rivers, diminished water quality, and the loss of groundwater dependent ecosystems. In 2014, after three years of severe drought and the persistence of undesirable impacts to groundwater basins in California, the legislature passed the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), creating a statewide framework for groundwater regulation in California. SGMA requires that groundwater basins be managed to ensure long-term water supply sustainability and prevent undesirable results.
The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) is composed of a three-bill legislative package including Assembly Bill 1739 (Dickinson), Senate Bill 1168 (Pavley), and Senate Bill 1319 (Pavley).
Additional Resources
The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), Water Code Section 10729(d), directed California Department of Water Resources (DWR) to “publish on its internet Web site best management practices for the sustainable management of groundwater,” by January 1, 2017. DWR developed and published 2 categories of information – Best Management Practices (BMPs) and Guidance Documents – to assist Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) with developing Groundwater Sustainability Plans (GSPs).
Public Notices
Public notices let you know when public review periods are scheduled for EMWD actions, declarations or other items.
Comments
Comments on a public notice or requests for more information may be sent via e-mail or in writing to the address noted on each item. Email or written comments must be received by the scheduled comment end date. Email or written comments received will be forwarded to the EMWD Board of Directors and will be considered before an action is taken on the item.
Public Meetings
Public meetings of the EMWD Board of Directors in order to take action on the posted items are held in the EMWD Board Room located at 2270 Trumble Road in Perris, California.
Notices of Public Hearing: Formation of West San Jacinto GSA
2016 Basin Boundary Modification Initial Notification
2018 Basin Boundary Modification Initial Notification
GSP Development Initial Notification
Meeting Invitation_June 26 2019
Meeting Schedule
| Meeting Date | Topic(s) of Discussion |
|---|---|
| September 14, 2022 |
Time: 10:00 a.m. |
| August 25, 2021 |
Public Comments, Final GSP, and Board Hearing Date for GSP Adoption Invitee List Invite Agenda Sign-In Sheet Meeting Minutes |
| May 19, 2021 |
Public Draft GSP Sign-In Sheet Meeting Minutes |
| March 24, 2021 |
Review of GSP and Next Steps for Public Comment and Review Sign-In Sheet |
| October 14, 2020 |
Water Budgets, Undesirable Results Sign-In Sheet - Webinar Meeting |
| July 14, 2020 |
Water Budgets Sign-In Sheet - Webinar Meeting |
| April 14, 2020 |
Water Budgets Canceled due to Covid-19 |
| January 14, 2020 |
Hydrogeologic Conceptual Model and Future Water Budget |
| September 24, 2019 |
Historical and Current Conditions |
| June 26, 2019 |
SGMA Background and Groundwater Sustainability Plan Development |
Program Documents
Groundwater Sustainability Plan 2022 Annual Report
- Groundwater Sustainability Plan 2022 Annual Report
- Table of Contents
- Executive Summary
- Introduction
- Basin Setting
- Sustainable Management Criteria
- Projects and Management Actions
- Plan Implementation
This section will house links to relevant project documents.
Resolution 2016-135: Formation of the West San Jacinto Groundwater GSA
Resolution 2018-082: Initiating A Basin Boundary Modification Request For The San Jacinto Basin
Board Letter: Formation of the West San Jacinto Groundwater Sustainability Agency
Sustainable Groundwater Management Act 2019 Basin Prioritization
Stay Informed
By subscribing to EMWD’s mailing list, you will receive news and updates about the Groundwater Sustainability Agency Process and any upcoming stakeholder forums.
Subscribe to EWMD eNotifications. Select Calendar and/or News options for Sustainable Groundwater Management Act to stay informed.